V-belt drive pulley



fixed half thereof.`

Patented Nov. 9, 1948 l warrenV STATES PATENT lbert F. "Iiusk, Pontiac,Mich. i

Application June 20, 194.6,` SerialNo. 678,054`

" This invention reiatestn v-beit drive pulleys and to clutchingmechanism therefor.

The object of the invention` is "to provide a V-belt drivepulleyconstruction which is adapted to reduce the starting loads `forsmall electric motors as well as to provide a clutching arrangement forall types of V-belt drives. l

l A further object is to provide a clutching V-type y pulleyconstruction wherein one half of the V-type pulley may bemanually orautomatically moved towards or away from a fixed half `.thereof and thusoperate to engage orfdisengage belt driven l equipment.

Vwill be hereinafter fully described and claimed.`

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of thespecification and Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of one form ofV-belt drive pulley construction embodying the features of my inventionand showing the movable out of engagement with` the half of the pulley21 Claims. `(C1. 711-230.245

` secured by means of a suitable set screw indicated l Figure 2 is a,sectionalviewf of the pulleylcon'- struction as shown in Figure `1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing the movablehalf of the pulley in its engaged position withrespect to the fixed halfthereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view the line 4-4 thereof andl looking in thedirection of the arrows. l

Figure 5 is a sectional View ofFigure 3 taken on the line 5--5 thereofand looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of constructionembodying the featuresv of my lnvention and indicating the movablehalfrof the pulley out of l engagement with the Xed half thereof. l i lFigure 7 is a sectional view,` similar to'Figur'e 6. but showing themovable half of the pulley construction in operative engagement with thexed half thereof.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of Figure 'I taken on the line 8 8 thereofand looking in the direction of the arrows. l l

Referring to the drawings, and particularlyto the form of constructionillustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the numeral I denotes a hollow shafthaving the slotted openings 2 and 4 provided therein. In `one end of thehollow shaft member theend of a driving shaft 6 of a` motor is. adaptedto be of Figure 3 taken `on againstlthe` inner wall 24` of Positioned onthe hollow at 5. Positioned around saidhollow shaft, and xedly securedthereto by a set screw. iis `one half l? of a V-type drive pulley. Thisxedlhalf of the pulley is provided with an idlermeans `8,1 upon whichabelt 9 is adapted to ride whenthe pulley is not functioning to drivesaidbelt. Also mounted around said hollow shaft, and having` slidingengagement with respect theretoyis :the movable halfIIl of said pulley.l f

Positioned within the hollow shaft, and having slidingfengagementtherewith, is a plunger type spindle II. The spindle I Iis formedwitl'iajre-` duced end portion I2, which is joinedto the main body ofthe 'spindle by the curved portion I3.

Keyed to the spindle by means ofthe pin I4 is a o free ring I5. The freering is held so that it abuts a ring `member 20 by means of anadjustable screw I8 which has a screw threaded i engagement in anopening provided through theend `of the plunger spindle.` rhe pin I 4isadapted to be moved in the slotted opening 4 `of said hollow shaft`during the operation of the `V-type pulley construction, as will be`more fully explained hereinafter. The spindle I I and the free ring I 5arelnormally forced forwardly in the hollow shaft I and towardsthemovablefhalfUIU of the pulley by means of a compression spring I6,

which has one end abutting against the end of the spindle andthe otherend secured to a spring stopper I'I, tted into the end of l the hollowshaft I. l i

shaft I` is a sleeve member 20 formed with an axially extending flangeportion which has a screw@ thread 2I formed'at its extreme endcooperating with'said sleeve member 2D and rotatably mounted upon thehollowshaft is a sleeve member 22 which is provided` with a screwthread23.` The sleeve member 22 isadapted `to turn freely upon the hollowshaft I `and thescrew thread 2| of the` sleeve member 2U is adapted `tocooperate with and move `over the screw thread portiorr23 of the sleevemember '22. 1 l The sleeve member Zllis provided with the end walls 24and 25 and between which the free ring I5 is adapted to move. Onevfaceof the free ring is positioned to abut` against the movable half Ill ofthe: V`pulley and is adapted to movewith. said half ofthe pulley towardsthe fixed` half 'I thereof during the operation of the mechanism `of theconstruction. l

The ball 29 is positioned so that it will ride on the screw threadedportion of the sleeve member 20 and is also adapted to fit into adepression 29 drilled into said screw threaded portion (see Figure 5) toprovide a lock for the sleeve member 2li during the operation of thepulley mechanism as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.

In the slotted opening 2 of the hollow` shaftl there ispositioned thesteel" balls 30 and 3l. These balls are adapted to be forced from saidslotted opening into depression 32 formed in the movable half IG of thepulley to lock the movable half of the pulley to the spindle II vwhensaidy spindle has been advanced into position with respect to thefixedhalf of the pulleyv (see-Figure 3). The shaft I also has a ballbearing 34,' countersunk therein, and the movable half I0 of said pulleyis adapted to ride back and forth on# said ball bearing, thus themovable half of the -iff-pulley is; positioned sorthatit ,will .rotatewith Ithe hollow s'haftl, but at the'same timewillslide back and vforththereon.

Mounted in the hollow shaft Ils a pin 35 .againstwhich the reduced endof the spindle ll a'bluts 'when :it has reached the limit lof` itsforward travel-during the operation of the mechanis-m. There isalsoprovided in the 'construction shown .in Figures 1 A130.3, a retainerring 36 which is mounted on the .end of fthe hollow shaft I and which isretained in position with yrespect to said shaft by the set screws 36.This retainer ring 4vfunctions to limit the rearward travel of thesleeve member 22.

Inuse the sleeve member 22 of the V-belt f' drive pulley-construction,is secured to asuitable 'support .or fixture to prevent it rotating onthe shaft I. In Figure l of the drawings the said sleeve member is shownformed with a right angle'd arm portion 3l which is secured to a supportby means of a securingbolt 33.

The sleeve member 2l]- of the mechanism is `adapted to be rotated ineither a `clockwise or counterclockwise direction by a lever 39 toeffect n the .engagement or disengagement of the movlable half of thepulley with the fixed half thereof. The lever 35i may be either manuallyoperated or operated by the use of any suitable automatic means. i Theoperation-of the, mechanism as shown vin `Figures l to 5 and as abovedescribed is as follows:

When it is desired to engage the movable half Ill of the V-pulley inoperative position with respectto the nxed han i, thesieeve memberro fis caused to be turned in a clockwise direction by the lever 39. Thiscauses the said sleeve member 2l] to ride over the screw thread portiony 230i the sleeve member 22 .and along the shaft I, and towards the`fixed half of the pulley, and with its'end face 2li pushing the movablehall of the pulley towards the fixed half. At the same time the pin il,to which the free ring member I5 is keyed, is caused to be movedforwardly in the slot II, of the shaft I, by reason vof the pressureplaced upon the end yof the spindle I I by the spring I6, and thus thespindle is also moved forward within the hollow shaft I towards rthe-lxed half of said pulley. As the spindleis moved forward the bans seand su are forced out of the 7 ,slot 2` in thefhollow shaft I by thecurved portion I3 of the reduced end of the spindle, and into thedepressions 32 formed in the movable half I U -of theypulley. By thistime the spindles mainv diameter, has rbeen brought under the ba1ls3l iYmember 2l! moves backwardly the ball 29,

f nd thie spindlee is thus pulled away from the fixed h'al'f ofthe'pulley being 'driven back by reason of the movement of the sleevemember 20 pushing against the free ring I5 keyed to the `'pint I4.- Theturning of the sleeve member 2i] and the resulting backing of of thespindle causes the springl to be compressed and as the sleeve v, whichis held under tension in the spiral grooves of the worm off sleevemember 22, drops into the depression 29' formed in the screw thread oisleeve member 120.- Thliscauses the sleeve member 20 tobecome.'lo'ckediagainst' movement mits dis.- engagedrpostion.

:In :the modified. form of construction of the 'll-loelt. drive pulleyof my .inventionfshown in Figures'v 6, ,'7 yand 8` there-is employed fahollow shaft 40 which. fis-provided'with an: openinggdsl therein..Thiers-hait is formed with. an `enlarged endportionhaving-.a shoulder40. The driving vshafti 4.2`of .a .motor is ,adapted to :bie receivedyin the enlarged portion of the hollow shaft and fsecuredtofthezsamebyfa setscrewrill.y Positioned om the hollow shaft and Xedlysecuredfthereto by the -set screw Misfonezhalf :1l-5 of' ar V-type:drive parl-ley." Thejix'ed" half @of the drivempull-ey vis formed` withaA cutawayy portion 45'. Also slida-bly mounted on .thehollow-shaftisthe movable half 46 of the pulley. The movable half of said pulley isformed with a :small diameteruportion. ll upon which the V-belt 48 isadapted to ride-.when 'the moVableLhaIf ofthepulley yis disengaged :fromthe ix'ednhalfi thereof. Themovablerhalf" of the pulleyridesonfoillessbearings indicated. :at 48, 'and which'are positioned betweenit and-the hollow shaft dll. The movable of thepulleyisfalsoprovidedw-ith a-ball bearingi'thnead 50 which is machined. onltliel interiorfcircumerence thereof. n

^ r Sl'idin'glyA mounted r within `tlfref'hollfowi.s-haftA'Il 'lisisItplfungfer.` type-:spindle lil.` z'Said:spindle: is formed with adepressed portion 52 adjacent its y'end.Mr.said'ideprelssed portion:being ioinedto the fendzlofthea 'spindle'.loyf an 'angular' facedportion 55, A ball bearing driving member'll". is posiiti'on-ed in'rthe"openingifl I 'of' the hollowshaft and softhatiitsis in'.contactv withthe surface of? the depressed portion 52 of the spindle;s.lvl'o'unlsedz.within the iliollowr.shaftil!)l and positionedagainstthe face. ofthe` inrierend 153 of vthe spindle is a compressionspring 56. This 'ispringffnctonsv'to :exert aV constant pressure againstthe end of said spindle. The positioning ofth'e'ispinidlevwifthintlrehollnw shaft during'the operation :of `"the:ipulleyfmechanism is''controlled loy'rmanualor automatically 'ope-ratedmeans (not shown), aswill be more fully explain-'ed `here-inaftfer: Thef.=ofp'eiiatidnifofthfe mechanism of -th'ef pulley construction shown in Figures 6,'lv-.and'Sfis as follows: Y

Referring to Figure 6fio`f vthe drawings, the movable halfl 'of "thepulley is shown disengaged Vfrom theedhalfl When the pulleymechamismxiis int'thisfoondition the spindle `5l is per--.mtt'edtefbe.movedleutwardly inthe hollow shaft 40 by the action of thespring 5B. At the time this is occurringthehollow shaft 4U, which issecured to the driving shaft 42,` is rotating with the drivingshaft andthe ball bearing driving member 4| is thus caused to be forced out ofthe opening 4| in shaft40 by reason of the angu lar faced portion 55 ofthe spindle and into the ball bearing thread 5l) formedin the movablehalf 46 of the pulley. This causes the pulley portion 46 to move andalso to become locked to the revolving shaft so that it rotatestherewith. The belt 48 on the small diameter portion 41 of the `movablehalf of the pulley is thus made to rotate asit wedges between the twohalvesof said pulley. Ifthe source `of the load which the belt is.driving is great enough the movable half of the pulley will close all ofthe way with respect to the fixed half and until the face 51 thereofabuts againstlthe face of the cutaway portion 45 of the fixed half ofsaid pulley. If the source of the load is light enough, the movable halfof the pulley will `close in on the fixed half just sufliciently todrivethe load and then, as the load is increased, it will close in furtheruntil it reaches its fixed position with the fixed half of the pulley.

When it is desired to disengage the movable half of the pulley from thefixed half the operation is started by forcing the spindle 5|, by manualor automatic means, inwardly against` the action of the compressionspring 56. When this is done the ball bearing driving member 4| will beforced from its locked position with the diameter of the spindle andback into the cutaway recess in the spindlethus allowing said ballbearing driving member to disengage itself from the ball bearing thread.The pressure of the revolving belt 48 will provide the necessary forceto push the movablehalf of the` pulley away from the fixed half whenit'isreleased from its locked positionwith respect to the hollow shaftand as the gapbetween the two halves of the pulley widens the belt willlower itself down upon the small diameter 41 of the movable half of thepulley and then both the belt and the movable half of the pulley willcome to rest upon the revolving hollow shaft. l

What is claimed is:

1. In a V-belt drive pulleyconstructiomthe combination of a pulleyhaving one half thereof flxedly mounted ona rotatable shaft and theother half slidably mounted on `said shaft, means for rotating saidshaft,` means for moving the slidableihalf of said pulleyalong saidshaft and into operative position with respect to the fixed half duringthe rotation fof said shaft, meansfor` effecting the operation of `saidjpulleymoving means, and means for causing theslidable half of thepulley to become locked to said shaft so that it will rotate therewtihas it is moved into operative position with respect to the "fixed halfthereof. l

2. In a V-belt drive pulley construction, the combination of a pulleyhaving one half thereof flxedly mounted on a rotatable shaft and theother half slidablyfmounted on said shaft and normally non-rotatabletherewith, means for rotating said shaft, means for moving the slidablehalf of said pulley alongsaid shaft and into operative position withrespect to the fixed half during the rotation of said shaft, means foreffecting the operation of said pulley moving means, means for causingthe slidable half of said vpulleyto become locked tothe shaft so that itwill rotate therewith as it is moved into `oper towards the fixedportion 45 thereof.,`

ablymounted upon said hollow shaft for moving o' theslidable half ofsaid pulley into operative pomounted within said hollow sition withrespect to the fixed half thereof, means ;to lock the slidable half ofthe pulley to theshaft so that it will rotate therewith, and means foreffecting the simultaneous operation of saidtpulley moving and lockingmeans.

4. In a V-belt drive pulley construction the combination of a pulleyhaving one half thereof xedly mounted upon a rotatable hollow shaft andthe other half sudamy mounted on said shaft and normally non-rotatabletherewith, means for rotating said hollow shaft, a spindle slidablymeans associated therewtih for causing said slidable half of said pulleyto be moved into operative position with respect to the fixed halfthereof and t0 lock the same to the shaft so that it will rotatetherewith, means for moving said spindle within thehollow shaft toeffect the operation of the pulley moving and locking means.

5.,In a V-belt drive pulley construction the combination of a pulleyhaving one half thereof `xedly mounted upon a rotatable hollow shaft andthe other half slidably mounted upon said shaft and normallynon-rotatable therewith,

means for rotating said hollow shaft, means mounted on said shaft formoving the slidable half of said pulley into operative position withrespect to the fixed half thereof during the rotation of said shaft, andto hold said pulley half in said operative positionmeans for locking theslidable half of thepulley to the shaft so that itwillrotate therewithas it is moved into operative position with respect to the fixed halfthereof, and means for locking said pulley moving means against movementwhen the slidable half of the pulley is out of operative position withrespect `to the fixed half thereof.

` 6. `In a V-belt drive pulley construction the combination of a pulleyhaving one half thereofffixed- 1y mounted on a rotatable hollow shaftand the other half slidably mounted on said shaft and nor-` mallynon-rotatable therewith, means for rotating said hollow shaft; a spindleslidably mounted within said hollow shaft and having means associated:therewith for causing the slidable half of said pulley to become lockedto saidshait and so that `it will rotate therewith, and means mounted onsaid hollow shaft for moving the slidable half of the pulley intoengagement with the xed half thereof, during therotation of said shaft,and for moving said spindle so that it will cause said locking means tolock the movable half of lthe pulley tothe hollow shaft when said hall'of the pulley is` being moved into operative position with the `fixedhalf thereof.

7. In a` V-belt drive pulley construction, the combination of a pulleyhaving one half thereof fixedly mounted upon a rotatable hollow shaftand the other half thereof slidably mounted upon said shaft and normallyno11-rotatable therewith,

means' for' rotating --said hollow shaft; means shaft andl havingalmacen mounted upon said shaft for movingfisaid slidable half of thepulley into operative position withisrespect to the fixed half thereofand tofhold itlin said position, means for operating Vsaid pulley movingmeans, means for locking the slidable half of said pulley to the hollowshaft so that it will rotate therewith after it has been positioned withrespect to the fixed half, and `means for loperating said pulley movingmeans to render "it inoperative when the slidable half of the pulley isout :ofoperative position with .respect to the fixedl'half of the pulley8. In a V-belt drive' pulleyfwconstruction f the combination of apulley` havingr onev half thereof fixedly mounted upon a rotatable shaftand the other half slidably mounted upon said shaft, means for rotatingsaid shaft, means mounted upon said shaft for moving sai-d slidablehalffof the pulley along Usaid shaftr during .the rotation thereof tocause it to become operatively engaged l with the fixed half of thepulley, means for locking the slidable half of the pulleyto the shaftthat it will rotate therewith, means operated by said pulley movingmemos for causing said locking means to effect the lookingl oftheslidable'half of the .pulley to the shaft when it has been ymovedinto engagement with the fixed half.'

il. In a Vebelt drive pulley construction' the combination of a pulleyhaving one half thereof fixed-ly mounted upon a rotatable hollow vshaftand theother half siidably mounted upon'y said shaft normallynon-rotatable therewith, means for rotating .said hollow shaft, aspindle slidablyaop erable within said hollow shaft, means associatedwith said spindle and operable therebynfor locking the slidable half ofthev pulley to said hollow shaft so that it will rotate therewith,Vmeans mounted upon' said of said pulley into operative engagement withthe fixed half thereof and rfor simultaneously Imoving said spindle tocause said locking ,means to effect the locking of the slidable halfofthe pulley to said hollow shaft. f

l0. In a V-belt drive pulley lconstruction the combination of 'a pulleyhaving one :half thereof xedlymounted upon a rotatable hollowshaftandthe other half slidably mounted upon 'said shaft and 'normallynon-rotatable therewith, means `for rotatingsaid hollow shaft, a spindleslidably operable within lsaid hollow shaft, means :associated with saidspindle .and operable ythereby for locking the slidable half of thepulley to said hollow shaft and so that it will rotate therewith, aysleeve member mounted upon said shaft having a screw thread formed onits outer circumference, means for holding said sleeve member fromrotating with said4 shaft, a second sleeve member mounted upon saidshaftand positioned so that its outer face will abut against theslidable half of said pulley, said sleeve member being formed with anaxially eX- tending flange having a screw thread formed on its extremeend which is adapted to cooperate with hollow shaft for moving theslidable half the screw thread of said first mentioned sleeve p member,a spindle slidably mounted within said hollowshaft, meansassociated withsaid spindle and operable thereby for locking the slidable half of saidpulley to said hollow shaft and so that it will rotate therewith, meansfor operating said second mentioned sleeve member to move the sli-dablehalf of said pulley into operative engagement with the fixed halfthereof and to simultaneously cause said spindle to operate said lockingmeans to lock the movable half of the' pulley to said shaft. i

r11. In a V-belt,,pulleylconstructionthecom- :bination of .a pulleyvhaving lone halflthereof xedly mounted upon a rotatable hollowshaft and`the ,otherv half'slidably mountedy upon saidv :shaft and normallyanon-rotatable therewith,l vmeans for 'tro- :tating saidl hollow shaft,l a spindle 'slidably mounted. within said hollow :shaft andformed with`a reducedzportionat one end thereof;v ball vbearing means positioned inanopening in said :hollow shaft and` normally supported ron the re.duced end portion ofsaid spindle, means sli-dably mounted uponsaidhollowl .shaft for mGVing'the slidable half Iof the ,pulley alongsaid shaft v:and towards the ixedhalf '.i'llereof,` means associatedwith said'spin'dleadapted to'icontact withsa-id pulley moving means andyieldingly-held in contact therewith, and' means `for 'operating' saidpulley moving means to move Lthelslid'able half of said pulley into`engaged position with respect to the fixed half thereof and to causesaid' .spindle to force said ball bearing means through the opening 'insaid 'shaft to lock said \movable"@half 4ofthe pulley to the shaft andso that it will rotate therewith.

12.' In a VJoelt drive pulley' constructionthe `combination of a .pulleyhavingonemhalrthereof xedly mounted upon' a rotatable hollow-shaftandthe `otlierf'haif `slidably mounted upon: said shaft-'fand' havingball bearingthread' 'formed onfth'einterior circumference thereof, meanssecured to' said hollow shaft for rotating 'the same,

a sleeve member looselymountedupon saidfhollow shaft and providedwithafscrew thread upon the outer circumference thereof; means for :holduingsaird sleeve member against rotation with shaft, a' secondsleevemember mounted Vupon :saidshsaft andl formed with anlaXi-al'ly;yentendirn; flange having a screw threadformed at itsexe vtreme lendportion y,whicli cooperatesfwith the .screw-.thread f'ormed'fon thefirstmentioned sleeve member; a spindle slidingly mounted 4within thehollow :shaft and formed with a reduced yend portion, aI pin secured-'tosaid spindle and posi# ftionecl iso that'its ends `extend through :anfopen-y -ing in said 'hollow shaft, a ring member secured to` 4said pinand positioned iso: thatv it` 'will' abut against thefinner facezuof'thesecond Amentioneili sleeve member, tension means forholdingl saidspindle within the hollow shaft and'so that said ring member will be in:abutting `relation with the 'inner face fofthe second "mentioned sleevememher, means for moving said second mentioned sleeve member along theshaftin one direction so tha-titwill move theslidable half of the pulleyinto operativel position with respect vto the xed half thereof, andsothat the spindle will be permitted to advance within the shaft by`reason of the yaction of said `tension'` means, ,and ,inA the'`opposite direction' so that said sleeve member wil-l be withdrawn from-its abutting relation withgrespect to the slidable half of the pulleyand said spindle will be moved backwardly in a retracted position withinthe shaft and held in such posi tionaga-inst the action of said-tensionmeans, ball bearing meansA positief-led` in an` opening formed `ill-saidhollowlshaft and adapted-to be supported by the reduced end of saidspindle whensaid spindle is heldiin its retracted `.positionjand forcedfrom said openingin .the shaft into the ball bearing thread -f-,ormedsinthemovable halfk ofthe pulley to loci:- the said pulley half to theshaft so thatit will rotate .therewith whensai-dspindle-isadvanced-within the shaft by the faction :of said tension means,.andmeans for locking said secondfmen-tioned pulley moving sleevemember'against movement after ithas been withdrawn from itsabuttingrelation with respect to said slidable half of the pulley.

13. In a V-belt` drive pulley construction the combination of apulley'having one half thereof` fixedly mounted upon a rotatable hollowshaft and the other half slidably mounted upon said shaft, means forrotating said hollow shaft, a

spindle slidably mounted within said hollow shaft,

means operable by said spindle for `causingthe slidable half of thepulley to be moved intoand out of operativeposition with respectto'th'eiixedj half thereof, and means for slidably moving said spindlewithin said hollow shaft, and during the of, and means for operatingsaid spindle to effect the operation of said pulley locking andmovingmeans.

l5. In a V-belt drive combination of a pulley having one half thereoffixedly mounted upon `a rotatable hollow shaft and the other halflslidably mounted upon said shaft and having a ball bearing thread formedon the interior circumference thereof, means for rotating said hollowshaft, a `spindle slidably mounted within said shaft, ball bearing meansadapted to be positioned in theball bearing thread of the slidable halfof thepulley by the movement of the spindle within the hollow shaft,andto move the said pulley half `along the shaftiland into and out ofoperative engagement with the fixed half of the pulley and tosimultaneously lock said pulley half tothe shaft, and means to slidablyoperate said spindle within the hollow shaft to cause the pulley movingand locking operation effected by said ball bearing means.

16. In a V-belt drive pulley construction the combination of a pulleyhaving one `half thereof Xedly mounted upon a rotatable hollow shaft'and the other half thereof slidably mounted upon said shaft, a ballbearing thread formed on the interior circumference of the slidable halfof said pulley, a ball bearing member adapted to cooperate with saidball bearing thread of the slidable half of the pulley to move the saidpulley half along the shaft and into operative position with respect tothe fixed half, means slidingly operable within the hollow shaft foreffecting the engagement and disengagement of the ball bearing memberwith respect to the ball bearing thread, and means for effecting theoperation of said slidable means.

17. In a V-belt drive pulley construction the combination of a pulleyhaving one half thereof fixedly mounted upon a rotatable hollow shaftand the other half thereof slidably mounted upon said shaft and having aball bearing thread formed on the interior circumference thereof, a ballbearing member adapted to cooperate with said ball bearing thread tolock the slidable half of the pulley to said shaft so that it willrotate therewith and to move the said pulley half along the shaft duringthe rotation thereof and into operative position with respect to thefixed half of the pulley, a spindle slidably mounted within shaft sothat it will rotate therewith and pulley construction the i thereof, aspring cooperating with the inner l positioned within bearing means,

` l the opening combination of a pulley having one half thereof lflxedly mounted upon a rotatable hollow shaft and the other halfslidably mounted upon said shaft and having a ball bearing receivingthread i formed on the interior` circumference thereof, means forrotating said hollowshaft, a spindle slidably mounted within the hollowshaft and formed with a reduced portion adjacentone end thereof, ballbearing means normally positioned in an opening formed in said hollowshaft and supported by the reduced portion port the `said ball bearingmeans when it is positioned in the opening in the hollow shaft,`means'for releasing said spindle from its held position within the shaft topermit the same to be moved by the action of said spring and so that itwillV cause the ball bearing means to be forced through in the shaft`and into engagement with the ball bearing receiving thread lof theslid-` able half of ofthe pulley cause it to be 19. In aV-belt drivepulley construction the combination of a pulley'havingone half thereandthe other on the interior circumference thereof,

end end of said spindle, ball bearing means positioned in an openingformed in the hollow shaft and adapted to be supported by the reducedportion of the spindle, means for holding said spindle said hollowshaft, against the tension action exerted by said spring and so that thereduced portion thereof will support said ball means for releasing saidspindle from its held position and so that said spring will cause thespindle to move within the `shaft to force said ball bearing meansthrough the opening in the shaft and into the ball `bearing thread ofthe slidable half of the pulley to lock the pulley half to the hollowshaft and to cause the `same to be moved into operative position withrespect to the fixed half thereof. l

20. In a V-belt drive pulley construction the combination of a pulleyhaving one half thereof i xedly mounted upon a rotatable hollow shaftand the other half slidably mounted upon said shaft and having a ballbearing thread formed on the interior circumference thereof, means forrotating said shaft, a spindle slidingly positioned within said shaftand formed with a reduced portion adjacent one formed with a reducedportion adjacent one `the pulley along said shaft and into operativeposition with respect to the fixed half thereof, said ball bearingdriving means being normally positioned in an opening in said hollowshaft and supported by the reduced porti-on of saidfspindle a springmounted within the hollowshaft and of the spindle,

a spring cooperating with the inner end ofthet spindle, means forholding said spindle positioned Within the hollow shaft and against theaction of `said springsothat its reduced portion will supthe pulley, tolockthe slidable half i tothe rotating hollow shaft; and to` moved alongthe shaft into opera-f` tive position with respect to the fixed halfthereof.

end thereof, ball bearing drving means for advancing said slidable halfof half to the shaft vandwill-ralso operate to-:move

said pulley half along said shaft and` into opera tive-position withVrespect tothe fixed halfv there-r of. i t yZLpIn a Vbe1t drivepulleyconstruotiorrthe combination of a Vhollow shaft .having slotted openingstherein, means for' rotating said shat, al pulley having, one halfthereof i'iXedlv-mounted and the other half slidaol-y mounted upon-.saidshaft,;aspindle having sliding engagement Withinsaidhollowshaft-,andformed with a reduced end portionwhioh is joined tothe-mainboda`7 of thespindle by a curved -conneetingportiom a; secured to said spindle andextending through'ohe of the slotted openings inzsaid shaft, ai ringmemberseeured to said pinand'having: slidingen gagementWith-,said,shaft-spring-inea-ns to norvmallyforce the spindle andringimembertowards the `fixed -half of the pulley, -a sleeve mem-bermountedupon said shaft and having an `external thread; formed thereon,Aia secondA sleeve :member -3 having aniaxiall-y extending flange portionformed withan internal screw threadfat itsiouterend and-which isad-aptedtol icooperatetwith and move over the yexternal,,screw thread of-,thefirst mentioned sleeve: member, said 4ring member of i the spindle-beingpositioned to abut against the 4inner in the hollow shaft andfaceof-.said-second mentioned sleeve member, a

spring positioned in said housing and adapted to exert tension upon=aball bearing, said ball bearing being positioned to ride in thescrewthread formed on the rst -mentioned sleeve member, ball bearingspositioned in the other slotted openingin the hollow-shaft, av screwthread formed on the interior circumference of the slidable half ofathepulley, means to force such ball bearings into thescrewthread of theslidable half of the pulley tolockl the pulley half to the shaft when ithas-been advanced along the shaft into position withgrespect to the xedhalf of the pulley, a ball `bearing positioned in a depression formedupon which the slidable half ot the pulley is adapted to ride back andforth when -it is moved along the shaft, a pin mounted within the hollowshaft to limit the travelof the spindle toward the Xed half ofthepulley, ring means mounted on one end of the hollow shaft to limitthe rearward travel yof the first mentioned sleeve member along theshaft, means to secure the rst mentioned ring membernagainst rotationupon the hollow shaft, means to rotate vthe second mentioned sleevemember in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toLmove the samealong the shaft to effect the engagement or disengagement of theslidable half oi'thepul-ley with respect to the lixed half.

- ALBERT l F. -LUSK- REFERENCES i CITED The following references are ofrecord in the leoffthis'patent:

3" Um'ranr STATES PATENTS Number Namev Date 1,431,376 lDavis Oct. 10,1922 1,516,386 Kegresse Nov. 18, 1924 40 2,259,149" v Cederstrom Oct.14, 1941

